Rotary Recruiting Two For Foreign Junket

Newtown Rotary Club is sponsoring two business people 25–40 years old, to make a four-week Team Study junket to Venezuela or Lithuania in April. Each year, Rotary District 7980 ,comprised of the four lower counties of Connecticut, organize two, five-person teams to spend four weeks learning about the people, culture, history, political, and industries of the country they visit.

Each team will spend a month in either Venezuela between April 1 to May 1, or Lithuania from April 29 to May 29. While in these countries, the American guests will live with at least four Rotarian families in different parts of the country being visited.

Visits to schools, factories, government offices, and monuments are planned. And each week, each member will spend a day with fellow professionals in their field exchanging ideas and learning about aspects of that profession in each country.

The team is composed of five members led by a team leader, who is a Rotarian. Members must be employed full time, with a minimum of two years in a recognized business or profession, and they must be citizens of the United States.

The team members cannot be a lineal descendant of a living Rotarian. They must obtain permission from their employer to spend one month away from their job and be is good physical condition.

After their study abroad, they are expected to speak about their experiences at Rotary meetings and other civic functions. The travel expense is handled by Rotary International and the room and board by the local Rotary Club and hosts.

The only cost would be for personal items needed during the trip.

A half dozen Newtown residents have taken part in this program in the past. Anyone interested in this professional exchange program can to contact Ed Osterman at 426-0530 for more information.